Pet peeve: Inconsiderate boors who park on main roads and hamper traffic

That was a long one, but deserving of a long title to describe this bane of road users. You know the type. Those people who only consider their own convenience, other road users be damned! They like to park closest to building entrances, not minding if they take up most of a lane which should be used for moving vehicles, i.e. a traffic lane and not a parking spot. It used to be that the front entrance of Bangsar Shopping Centre was a showcase of such boors. These people would park at the curb, blocking traffic so that those cars crossing the traffic light from the Damansara Heights direction would have to squeeze into one lane. It was a constant menace and no doubt contributed to the long lines crawling up the hill to the intersection in front of BSC.

Well, sometime back, BSC decided to be responsible and put up no parking signs, complete with chains, alongside the curb on Jalan Maarof, to remind motorists that they should not park there. Unfortunately, some people can’t for the life of them imagine why they should be barred from parking there. After all, it’s so convenient to park your car there and pop in to BSC for a bit of shopping or a nice two hour steak lunch, say. Moreover, it’s such a hassle to actually have to go into the underground parking, which is so crowded anyway.

I figure that must be their thought process.


Take this example, spotted just yesterday by yours truly while waiting in traffic on the opposite side. He parks his BMW by the curb, gets out, and starts to make his way into BSC. A security guy comes up to him, obviously indicating that he can’t park there. He doesn’t pay much heed to the security guard. Another security guard joins the first, and the two proceed to remind our motorist that he can’t very well leave his car by the road-side. Our BMW-driver seems upset, and gestures dismissively to the two security guards, turns his back to them, and goes his merry way.

I managed to get a snap of his car too.



Then my light turns green, so I don’t get to see the finale for this little show. Somehow I suspect it was a muted denouement. After all, what could the management of BSC do? Call for the car to be towed away? Perish the thought!